Effects of Temperature and Salinity on the Survival and Metabolism of Tresus keenae (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

We examined the variation in survival and the respiration and filtration rates of Tresus keenae in response to changes in water temperature and salinity. The survivorship of animals exposed to temperatures below $25^{\circ}C$ for 7 days was $80\%$; however, all test animals died on the fourth day at $28^{\circ}C$. The upper lethal temperature over 7 days was $25.9^{\circ}C$. After exposure to lower temperatures, $93\%$ ofthe animals survived at temperatures over $5^{\circ}C$ for 10 days. Survivorship rapidly decreased below $4^{\circ}C$ with all test animals dying at $2^{\circ}C$ on the eighth day. The $LT_{50}$ over 10 days was $4.8^{\circ}C$. The respiration and filtration rates of T. keenae increased as temperature increased. It is believed that energy consumption increases as a result of the increased respiration rate at temperatures above the upper lethal temperature. At temperatures below the lower lethal temperature, the metabolic rate of T. keenae was substantially lowered. In response to changes in salinity, the survivorship of T. keenae was $90\%$ at 30.2 psu after exposure for 5 days; at below 26.8 psu, all test animals died by the fifth day. The $LS_{50}$ was 29.1 psu. As salinity decreased, both the respiration rate and the filtration rate decreased. At 23.5 psu, the respiration and filtration rates decreased by 48 and $34\%$, respectively. These data have implications for increasing efficiency in the production and management of shellfish aquaculture farms.